Ready's Gal Heavenly in Hillsborough Victory

Ready's Gal, trained by Todd Pletcher, scored her second graded stakes victory with a 1 1/4-length win over favored Amorama in the $137,500 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf for older fillies and mares at Tampa Bay Downs.

Pletcher credited a perfect trip under John Velazquez for the 4-year-old filly's fifth win in 12 career starts. She moved to thee-for-six lifetime on the turf and upped her career earnings to $187,219. The daughter of More Than Ready   captured the Lake George (gr. IIIT) on the Saratoga lawn as a 3-year-old last June.

"She took to the turf course well and turned in a big race, which she's shown she's capable of doing on certain days," Pletcher said after Ready's Gal's win Saturday. "She got a perfect trip and delivered with a perfect run down the lane."

The French-bred Amorama, a grade I winner trained by Bobby Frankel, was up late for second under jockey Mike Smith. The 5-year-old mare finished a neck ahead of Marchonin, trained by Michael Matz and ridden by Jeremy Rose.

Ready's Gal, sent off at 6-1, covered the 1 1/8-mile course in 1:50.50. She ran just off the pace set by Jacaranda Jane (:25 2/5, :51 3/5, 1:15 3/5) before edging clear late in the compact field of 12.

The fourth choice, she paid $14.60, $6 and $5.

Amorama returned $4 and $3.40 in her second start in 5 1/2 months for Frankel.

Marchonin was $11.20 to show.

Jacaranda Jane ran fourth, followed by Laurafina, Joyful Chaos, Bond Deal, Natalie Beach, Minge Cove, La Dolce Vita, Black Rock Road, and Commercialize.

Ready's Gal earned $75,000 for owner James T. Scatuorchio and has now banked $350,999 in her career with an overall record of 5-2-0 in 12 starts.

(Chart, Equibase)